Toy parachute and launcher



Aug. 23, 1960 R. AYE 2,949,694

TOY PARACHUTE AND LAUNCHER t Filed Sept. 29, 1958 [Alvin/7'02: RAYMOND HYE,

TOY PARACHUTE AND LAUNCHER Raymond Aye, 4024 Cranberry Lane, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Sept. 29, 19 58, SerJNo. 764,182

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-86) This invention relates to improvements in toy parachutes and launchers, and, in particular, is concerned with a toy parachute having an elastic ring and an elastic portion in the shroud lines whereby it may be launched from the ring by an elongated flexible launching bar.

The toy parachute and launcher of this invention cOrnprise a simple launching platfo'rm consisting of an elongated flexible launching bar mounted upon a portable launching block. This launching apparatus is adapted to be placed in any convenient spot, as in the living room or the like, and may be employed to launch a toy parachute connected to a toy such as a figurine, toy auto, or the like. The parachute is very simple in construction being made of light weight silk or other similar material having thread-like shroud lines and being connected to a weighted toy through a flexible elastic portion. The top of the parachute is provided with a small elastic ring which can be placed over the end of thelaunching bar. When the launching bar is bent at its free end portion with the toy parachute balanced at the tip, the parachute can be propelled by loosening the bar and, when so propelled into space, the parachute automatically opens and floats gently to the earth.

It has been found that the toy parachute and launcher of this invention can be very simply employed as a toy with no training required. It is a very important aspect of this invention that the toy parachute be provided with the elastic ring for launching and also an elastic portion in the shroud lines connected to the weighted member for successful and satisfactory launching and openingiof the parachute. Through these provisions the toyhas been made virtually fool-proof and a wide application can be enjoyed. Thus, the launching block, which is provided with a flat base and an upright triangular portion to which the bar is attached at one of its sides, can be placed upon a" table, the floor, or any convenient spot. The toy parachute may then be simply grasped in one hand with the weighted toy attached to it while the launching bar is manipulated With the other hand.

The toy parachute and launching bar of this invention are simple in construction and inexpensive in cost. Because of the simplicity of construction and the nature of operation the toy may be used and enjo'yed in a multitude of applications.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a toy parachute and launching bar consisting of a flexible elongated bar and a parachute having an elastic launching ring in its top and an elastic portion in the shroud lines connected to the parachute and a weighted member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a toy parachute and launching bar in which the launching bar is simply supported upon a block member having a flat base and an upright triangular portion with the bar secured at its bottom to one of the sides of the triangular portion.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy parachute and launching bar in which the parachute hired States Patent the parachute:

HE p 3 2,949,694

Patented Aug- 23, 1960 has a flexible elastic ring at the top for engagement with the launching bar and launching therefrom, and which can be used to flexibly secure the feet portion of a toy figurine attached to the shroud lines of the parachutefor convenience in packing and to prevent tangling of the shroud lines.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a toy parachute and launching bar which are simple in construction and easy to operate.

Further objects of this invention will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be further apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of a toy parachute and launcher. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the parachute launching bar and block;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the launching bar and block taken from the left side of-Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view of the parachute with a toy figurine attached to the shroud lines and feet of the figurine secured within an elastic ring secured to the'p'arachute to prevent tang'ling of the shroud lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner of securing the flexible elastic ring to the top of Figure 5 is a view in section taken on the line 55 of 'Figure 4 showing further details of this construction;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner of securing one of the shroud'lines to the parachute canopy; 1

Figure 7 is a view in section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6 showing further details of construction;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the manner of securing the lower elastic portion of the shroud lines to a my figurine; and

Figure 9 is a View in reduced scale showing the mariner of operating the toy parachute by the parachute launcher.

The toy parachute and launcher of this invention are generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 for the launcher as shown in Figure 1 and the reference numeral 11 for the parachute as shown in Figure 3. The two are, of course, to be used together and the manner of use is best shown in Figure 9, showing the parachute being launched from the parachute launcher.

The launcher 10 consists essentially of a long flexible launching bar 12 which is supported at its bottom to a launching block 13. The launching block is comprised of a flat base 14 and an upright triangular support member 15. The bottom portion of the launching bar is setop of the parachute canopy and a plurality of shroud lines 22 positioned around the bottom periphery of the canopy. A weighted member 23, which is shown in the form of a toy figurine, is connected through an elastic cord 24 to the bottom portion of the shroud lines in order to provide for proper launching and opening of the parachute in conjunction with the elastic ring 21.

The canopy 20 is made of a light weight fabric, such as silk or other similar light closely woven material of construction. The elastic ring 21 is connected to the top of the canopy by a flat and flexible reinforcing member 25 to anchor the elastic ring securely in place. In somewhat similar fashion the shroud lines 22 are anchored to the bottom periphery of the canopy by a reinforcing member 26. The shroud lines are of a light weight and may be conveniently made of light weight threads and the like.

The bottom portions of the shroud lines are gathered together by a knot 27 and a knot 28 to prevent tangling. The elastic cord portion 24 is secured to the bottom ends of the shrouds as at the gathered portion 28, while the other end of the cord portion is connected to the toy figurine 23 at a pack 29 carried by the figurine.

The figurine 23 is formed in the position of a standing man and it will be noted that the feet portion 39 are so constructed that they are positionable within the ring 21 as shown in Figure 3. This. provides a convenient means for packing the parachute and preventing tangling of the shroud lines, While at the same time holding the figurine and the parachute canopy together.

Use

The toy parachute and launcher of this invention are very simply adapted to be used as shown by the illustration of Figure 9. In use, the parachute launcher is placed either on the ground or on a table to provide for proper elevation of the launcher from the ground where a longer parachute drop is desired. In the operation of the toy the launcher bar 12 is bent to the position shown in full lines. This may be done with one hand by grasp ing the launcher bar at the tip. At the same time the parachute is grasped at the top portion of the canopy with the other hand and the elastic ring 21 is placed upon the end of the bar with the tip of the launcher bar extending through the ring.

After this preliminary operation has been made, which is extremely simple, the launching bar and parachute are released. The parachute is then caused to be hurled or catapulted through the air in the manner shown in the dotted lines in Figure 9.

It has been found that the elastic ring 21 and the elastic cord portion 24 connecting the bottom of the shroud lines to the weighted member are essential to the .operation of the device. This provides proper flexibility and freedom from shock whereas it has been found that with metal or rigid launching rings at the top of the parachute and with non-elastic cords connecting the shroud lines and the weighted member that proper operation does not occur.

The toy parachute and launcher of this invention as is apparent fro'm the preceding description may be very simply operated by children of very young ages with ease. The launching block is quite stable because of the flat base and the arrangement of the triangular supporting member provides a high degree of propulsive force. The toy parachute With the weighted member is simple in construction and low in cost and is free from any complicated operating parts so that the entire toy parachute and launcher may be operated very easily. As a further desirable feature, the toy figurine in the figure 4 of the man may be very simply packed with the parachute by using the elastic ring 21 to secure the feet of the figurine to the top of the parachute to prevent from tangling. It is obvious, however, that other weighted toys may be employed in this invention by connecting them to an elastic cord portion to the bottom of the shroud line.

Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scopeand teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy parachute launcher comprising an elongated straight springy launching bar mounted on a rigid support block at the bottom portion of the bar and having an opposite free end which may be bent in a biased manner to a cocked position, said block consisting of a flat base attached to an upright triangular member with the bar being supported upon one of the sides of said triangular member pointing upwardly at an angle from the vertical, a parachute including a canopy and shroud lines having an elastic portion connecting the canopy to a weight, and means for launching the parachute from the bar consisting of an elastic ring connected to the top of the parachute which fits freely over the free end of said launching bar, said elastic ring being flexed when the parachute is held by said weighted figure of a man and moved backward against the force of the launching bar.

2. A toy parachute launcher comprising an elongated straight springy launching bar mounted on a rigid support block at the bottom portion of the bar and having an opposite free end which may be bent in a biased manner to a cocked position, said block consisting of a flat base attached to an upright triangular member with the bar being supported upon one of the sides of said triangular member pointing upwardly at an angle from the vertical, ,a parachute including a canopy and shroud lines having an elastic portion connecting the canopy to a weighted figure of a man, and means for launching the parachute from the bar consisting of an elastic ring connected to the top of the parachute, which fits freely over the free end of said launching bar, said elastic ring being flexed when the parachute is held by said weighted figure of a man and moved backward against the force of the launching bar, and means for packing the figure and the parachute together when not in use to prevent tangling of the shroud lines consisting of a foot member upon the weighted figure of a man engageable with said ring in elastic binding relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,343 Ferrill Aug. 6, 1929 1,793,729 Askam Feb. 24, 1931 2,109,120 Price Feb. 22, 1938 2,363,970 Kalep Nov. 28, 1944 2,421,618 Hornbeck June 3, 1947 2,568,475 Vaughan Sept. 18, 1951 

